By Bassey Udo
The third African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) Training Programme for African businesses is scheduled for June 16 to 18, 2026 in Cairo, Egypt.
Developed and led by African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank), in collaboration with the American University in Cairo (AUC) and the AfCFTA Secretariat, the programme is designed to equip participants with the skills, knowledge, and practical expertise required to navigate and succeed within Africa’s evolving intra-African trade landscape.
Afreximbank said in a statement on Wednesday that while the AfCFTA has significant potential to drive economic development across Africa, limited understanding of its technical provisions and practical applications continues to hinder the full realization of its benefits.
Therefore, the training programme is designed to equip businesses with practical, actionable insights on identifying and capitalising on trade opportunities, managing export and import operations, and navigating trade finance, supply chains, and the broader international trade environment.
Also, the programme would also provide a clear understanding of how the AfCFTA framework addresses capacity constraints and expands market access for producers of goods and services across the continent.
“By translating the AfCFTA’s legal and treaty provisions into business-ready strategies, the programme offers clarity on the regulatory, operational, and market requirements necessary for companies to fully leverage opportunities within the rapidly expanding AfCFTA market,” Afreximbank said in the statement.
As the African Union’s key strategic partner in implementing the AfCFTA, Afreximbank has spearheaded multiple initiatives to advance both intra and extra-African trade and investment, with trainings playing a key role in capacity building.
The Group Chief Economist & Managing Director of Research at Afreximbank, Dr. Yemi Kale, described the training as “a strategic platform for advancing the adoption and deepening the understanding of the AfCFTA among key stakeholders, particularly corporates within the broader private sector ecosystem.”
The initiative, he added, “reinforces the Bank’s commitment to equipping businesses with the
insights and capabilities required to effectively leverage opportunities under the Agreement.”
Dr. Kale expressed confidence that participants in this training would leave with a holistic understanding of the AfCFTA, its genesis and dimensions, enabling them to assess the outcomes of the ongoing negotiations, and to examine the challenges and opportunities that underlie the negotiations and the agreement at large.
He said participants would also be able to explore the prospects of the AfCFTA and to capitalize on the agreement while supporting its objectives to the benefit of their corporations and the continent.”
The Director of Trade in Goods and Competition at the AfCFTA Secretariat, Mohamed Ali, said: “This programme represents a critical step towards unlocking the full potential of intra-African trade through targeted capacity building and strategic partnerships.
“Our collaboration with Afreximbank reinforces a shared commitment to equip African businesses with the practical knowledge, tools, and institutional support required to effectively utilize the Agreement,” he said.
The Managing Director, Human Resources at Afreximbank, Stephen Tio Kauma, said the programme delivered through the Afreximbank Academy (AFRACAD) reflects Afreximbank’s commitment to equipping African businesses with the practical skills needed to fully leverage the opportunities under the AfCFTA.
“AFRACAD continues to serve as a leading trade knowledge hub, empowering participants to compete and thrive in Africa’s single market. Through our strong partnerships and innovative learning approach, we are empowering businesses across Global Africa to scale, innovate, and play a leading role in the continent’s economic transformation,” he said.
